09 August 2007

Soccer is beloved throughout the world, and national pride often brings tensions to the fans and players who are involved. The same goes for the countries vying to host the World Cup.

But there are some people that you just wouldn't expect a crazy outburst from. Jack Warner would be one of those people. He's a FIFA vice president and president of CONCACAF, soccer's governing body in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Warner has vowed to fight in order to stop England from hosting the 2018 World Cup. Warner spoke of England as an "irritant," and one that was universally hated in Europe.

"If by chance, in 2018, the World Cup were to go to Europe, I'm quite sure, with the English luck as it is, they won't get it," the 64-year-old said. "It'll be Italy, Spain, or it might even be France. Nobody in Europe likes England. England -- who invented the sport -- has never had any impact on world football. England at no time has had the love and support of Europe. For Europe, England is an irritant."

England last hosted the World Cup in 1966, and is expected to launch its 2018 bid. Having already won the rights to host the 2012 Summer Olympics England has already proved that it has the infrastructure and capabilities to host such a massive event. So why not a World Cup as well?

Warner would be one to disagree, and he's thrown down the gauntlet and preparing for battle.

"There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that," he vowed.

Yes, yes, Warner. It's good to defend the countries that you represent, but aren't you taking this a little far? Warner also had words for Manchester United and their recent signing of a 9 year-old.

"It's obscene and most absurd," said Warner. "And we have to fight that and put laws in place to prevent those things. That is almost a kind of football slavery... and we have to understand that slavery by any form is slavery."

Uh, yeah. Ok. Warner is no stranger to trouble after having been reprimanded after being accused of re-selling tickets at the 2006 World Cup. Warner can take the heat, so I encourage him to head over to London, or any other English city. He can find out how his comments are received in person, and challenge those irritants to a battle. Now that's what I'd like to see.